I Stole the Prince's First

Chapter 12:

 The Royal Ball (Part 4)

Retina hadn’t sensed anyone coming onto the terrace. Startled by the unfamiliar voice, she turned her head. The man who had silently approached her had hair as silver as the moonlight, even in the dark night sky.

“Who… are you?” Retina found herself instinctively touching her own hair. She didn’t know why she was so concerned; after all, she also had the curse of silver hair. Nevertheless, seeing someone openly displaying it was unusual.

“Oh, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I’ve been rude. I am Norden Raglaras, hailing from the Kingdom of Raglaras.”

Raglaras? That was the ancient royal family from the north, known for their year-round frigid temperatures and barren lands that were rich in mineral resources. Although not as prosperous as the Empire, they had remained prosperous due to their abundant mineral wealth and their history of fiercely defending against invasions.

Just a few days ago, there had been talks of an envoy from the north, and now it seemed the northern Crown prince himself had accompanied them. So, he wasn’t bothering to hide his silver hair. Perhaps that was because he didn’t feel the need to.

Retina had heard plenty of stories about the north, but encountering a northern person face-to-face was a first for her. The northerners were often depicted as having pitch-black hair, robust frames, and the uncivilized habit of tearing into raw meat with their sharp teeth. Seeing the prince, who was in fact from the north, made him seem quite different from the stereotypes.

“Allow me to introduce myself as well. I am Retina Cecilia, the Daughter of Duke Deneuve, but I suppose, since you’re from Raglaras Castle, you must be a prince. I apologize for not recognizing you.”

“No, no need for apologies. I’m the one who suddenly appeared and startled you.”

Norden, chuckling, tilted his head slightly to the side. His disheveled bangs reached down to his eyebrows. If Herald Rudenheim was like a blazing sun, Norden Raglaras felt more like a chilly snowfall.

Retina couldn’t help but feel that the black pupils in Norden’s eyes carried a sense of loneliness. As she gazed at the prince, her attention seemed to be unexpectedly drawn to his eyes, despite the fact that she herself had silver hair. Even though she wore a wig to hide it, she felt a strange familiarity with him, as if she had seen someone like him before.

Translator: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

Judging someone solely based on their hair color was simplistic, yet the shared characteristic of silver hair had lessened Retina’s guard against Northerners. In the Empire, those with this rare trait, especially due to the curse, tended to hide it due to social stigma. Meeting someone else with silver hair, even if it was their first encounter, caused her to grip the pendant around her neck tightly.

“It seems this is the first time Princess has seen a Northerner.”

“Yes, it is my first time encountering one directly…”

“Princess’s intense gaze feels like it could melt one’s heart.”

“Oh! I apologize. I didn’t mean anything sinister by it, really. It’s just that your hair color is a bit unusual. I’ve heard that most people from the North have jet-black hair.”

Norden, looking into Retina’s eyes that followed her gaze, raised the hair that fell over his eyebrows.

“Yes, compared to those from the East, who generally have fair skin and lighter hair, Northerners usually have black hair.”

As if his silver hair was a topic of curiosity and judgment, Norden swept the strands aside with a look that seemed to question the reason behind his cursed color. The strands of hair fell between his fingers, resembling snowflakes descending exclusively upon him.

“I’ve heard that this silver hair is seen as a symbol of a curse in the Empire.”

Retina observed the numerous gazes directed at Norden, the envoy from the North. Initially, she assumed it was due to the deep-rooted perception of Northerners as savages because of past wars. However, after spending several days here, she had come to understand that stories passed down through generations held more sway than a century-old history.

“I apologize for having to say this in front of a prince, but it’s true.”

Retina did not refute the Prince’s words. She had, after all, gone to great lengths to conceal her own silver hair.

“But to my eyes, it looks quite beautiful.”

“Is that so? You are the first to compliment me on my looks in Rudenheim”

“It’s not about you, Prince. It’s about your hair color…”

“Yes, my hair color. In the Empire, there seems to be a rather negative perception, but in the North, silver hair represents the blessing of the goddess.”

Norden’s voice carried a certain weight. The blessing of the goddess was intertwined with the founding myth of Raglaras, the tale of the first king and the goddess of snow. Such legends are found in every culture.

“Most people see it as mere mythology, but in the North, everyone believes in this story. Especially when it comes to this hair color that exists only in the North.”

“However, I’ve heard that in the Empire, people with silver hair are born from time to time; cursed though they may be, they still receive unfavorable glances…”

“Silver hair is a mark that only appears in the descendants of the first king and the goddess of snow. Marriages between the kingdom and the empire were common before the war, so their blood must have mixed over the years.”

Typically, as people aged, their hair turned shades closer to white or darkened. However, for those with royal blood, the darker their hair, the closer it was to pure white, giving it a sparkling quality. Those who were misunderstood in the Empire due to their “cursed” hair often displayed hues closer to gray due to the expression of long-buried traits.

“At present, there are no people with this color except for those who occupy Raglaras Castle in the North.”

Norden stated it firmly. Retina wondered about her own hair color, a topic she couldn’t easily explore with her hair concealed under a wig.

“The last remaining bloodline, the Ignus family, was a noble lineage. They were loyal knights who protected the King of Raglaras for generations.”

“They were also blessed by the goddess, right? So they must have seemed almost like siblings?”

“No, despite their similar hair color, they were distinguishable. And it’s said that their eye colors were as different as can be.”

Standing tall, Norden pointed towards his eyes for Retina to see. She looked into Norden’s eyes at her eye level. Within those clear irises, she saw her own reflection as if mirrored in a tranquil, sunlit lake.

“It’s said that in the chronicles, their irises shone as blue as a lake reflecting the sun on a dewy morning, much like your bright and blue eyes.”

Norden chuckled softly, straightened his posture, and retreated into the shadows, as if trying to hide his slightly flushed ears. He asked Retina.

“Is there anything else you’d like to know, aside from Raglaras?”

“Um… Well…”

Retina, veiled by her Northern guise, was curious about the North, but she didn’t have any specific questions for Norden. Her lack of interest in him showed in her response, which clearly disappointed Norden, his shoulders slumping as if he were a drowning rat, unable to hide his immense disappointment.

‘No, more like a puppy who’s fallen into the water.’

Retina resisted the impulse to pat his dejected-looking head and clenched her fist instead. His eyes, black and gentle, along with his silvery hair, made him seem like a Samoyed dog owned by noble ladies.

People from the North were often described as rough and boisterous from birth, but that certainly didn’t apply to Norden. Realizing she had been somewhat impolite, Retina offered an apology.

“I’m sorry. I was a bit rude.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize. I didn’t say that to receive an apology. It’s just that you seemed more interested in the kingdom than me, and it made me, unintentionally, feel a bit jealous…”

“Pfft!”

Even as he turned away after speaking, the shadowy flush on Norden’s face couldn’t be hidden. Seeing him like this, Retina couldn’t help but burst into laughter right in front of him.

“Jealous because I seemed more interested in the kingdom?”

“Yes. You approached me first because you wanted to talk to me, just like when you met the Professor of Raglaras’ culture and understanding. You only asked about the North, didn’t you?”

“My apologies, my mistake. I’ll reflect on it.”

The mention of the Professor of Raglaras’ culture and understanding made Retina think of history professors droning on endlessly at academies. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. She wondered what kind of conversation had taken place between them while they were chatting and laughing at the ball.

“Still, I enjoyed talking with you.”

Translator: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

Norden reassured her with a smile, his demeanor clearly showing that he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable despite his evident favor toward her.

“Your Highness…”

Retina grabbed Norden as he tried to step away. His foot, which had been about to carry him away, halted, despite his apparent intention to leave.

“I also enjoyed our brief conversation, Your Highness.”

As Norden smiled brightly, his eyes widening at Retina’s mention of their next meeting, he leaned in to kiss the back of her hand in farewell. Then, he glanced over her shoulder and, with a sly smile, lifted the corner of his lips before disappearing.

Watching Norden disappear into the crowd, Retina first lowered her head in a bashful manner, then shrugged her shoulders. In the hall, people were still spinning around to the third tune, lost in the whirlwind of dance.

“Oh! The third dance!”

Retina clapped her hands as she suddenly remembered her promise with the Crown Prince, which she had momentarily forgotten due to her conversation with Norden. She was about to head towards the cake, where she had belatedly agreed to meet the Crown Prince, when a shadow fell over her head.

‘Could Raglaras’ prince be my hidden big brother, perhaps?’